It's not a pre-production or even an early build car. VIP VINs are a batch of low serial numbers that were held out and inserted in the production run. Dave's car is a VIP VIN.
There were 53 pre-production Mach 1s built, but these aren't them.

The 53 "pre production" cars, how were they treated?
Thanks in advance John. I figure there is no need for me to remember this info, you are my data base!

When I spoke to the guys at FPG I got into a bit deeper conversation about the '03 production when I ordered my certificate from them and they told me that the first 53 cars were pre-production and scheduled for magazine testing, Ford executives and so forth. These were built well before official production began on Nov. 7. My car was listed as the 66th built, but with the 53 pre-pro cars, it is the 13th production car. Anyone who has their certificate for an '03 car can subtract 53 from their series number to get their actual production number.

When I spoke to the guys at FPG I got into a bit deeper conversation about the '03 production when I ordered my certificate from them and they told me that the first 53 cars were pre-production and scheduled for magazine testing, Ford executives and so forth. These were built well before official production began on Nov. 7. My car was listed as the 66th built, but with the 53 pre-pro cars, it is the 13th production car. Anyone who has their certificate for an '03 car can subtract 53 from their series number to get their actual production number.

So these 53 were never sold to the public, even the Ford executive cars after they finished using them?

I'm sure they found their way into the hands of unsuspecting used car buyers, but I don't know of their VINs. It's possible Dave may have that information. I still want to find the 'X' code car that was at the 2002 NY Auto Show...if it still exists.

When I spoke to the guys at FPG I got into a bit deeper conversation about the '03 production when I ordered my certificate from them and they told me that the first 53 cars were pre-production and scheduled for magazine testing, Ford executives and so forth. These were built well before official production began on Nov. 7. My car was listed as the 66th built, but with the 53 pre-pro cars, it is the 13th production car. Anyone who has their certificate for an '03 car can subtract 53 from their series number to get their actual production number.

If this is actually the case John, why didn't they reduce the '03 Certificate numbers by 53? It sort of presents a gray area, that has no real significance to anybody outside of our select group of owners. I mean it's nice to be able to say my car is actually the 39th production Mach 1, instead of the 92nd, but there's no paper trail, or documentation to prove that. So in that regard, those 53 pre-production cars actually do count toward the total production number for the 2003 model year.

If this is actually the case John, why didn't they reduce the '03 Certificate numbers by 53? It sort of presents a gray area, that has no real significance to anybody outside of our select group of owners. I mean it's nice to be able to say my car is actually the 39th production Mach 1, instead of the 92nd, but there's no paper trail, or documentation to prove that. So in that regard, those 53 pre-production cars actually do count toward the total production number for the 2003 model year.

It certainly does represent a gray area, and it's all a matter of perspective. If you want to look at it from one, my car is the 66th Mach 1 built...period. From the other, it's the 13th production Mach 1 built. Certainly I like the lower number, and being the 13th, as well as it's delivery on a Friday the 13th, makes for a much more interesting topic of conversation. There may be documentation that Dave has access too, all have are the handwritten notes that I made during my conversation with the guys from FPV. I didn't ask for those facts, they were given to me by the guy at FPV when I actually helped him uncover a serious numbering flaw in their system that led to a delay in the release of the certificates until the problem could be fixed.

It certainly does represent a gray area, and it's all a matter of perspective. If you want to look at it from one, my car is the 66th Mach 1 built...period. From the other, it's the 13th production Mach 1 built. Certainly I like the lower number, and being the 13th, as well as it's delivery on a Friday the 13th, makes for a much more interesting topic of conversation

Well John & Jim.....I think we should indeed count the 53 cars.....my build # on my Certificate is 719....take 53 off that# and you end up with ...well let's not go there. I also picked my car up on Friday the 13th! YIKES!!!

Well John & Jim.....I think we should indeed count the 53 cars.....my build # on my Certificate is 719....take 53 off that# and you end up with ...well let's not go there. I also picked my car up on Friday the 13th! YIKES!!!

HaHaHa...I've thought of your # and the thing. I would agree that #13 is better. I will continue to like the 53 as being part of the production totals, you will always discount the 53 and go with your car being #13 and Jim can do whatever he wants as he doesn't have a problem either way!

HaHaHa...I've thought of your # and the thing. I would agree that #13 is better. I will continue to like the 53 as being part of the production totals, you will always discount the 53 and go with your car being #13 and Jim can do whatever he wants as he doesn't have a problem either way!

LOL! I get tired of 'splaining sh!t to people, so I'll just stick with the number that's on the Certificate and my front bumper, at least they match!

I don;t much more about preproduction than anyone else, especially John C. You have deeper conversations with John Clor and Scott than I do. I don;t have any other info other than what I have heard and read. Sorry.